Nikolaj Coster-Waldau to share scenes with cast member for the first time in Season 8 & Liam Cunningham on the end of filming

7x07 King's Landing Jaime

In new interviews, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau addresses Jaime’s journey, as well as a certain character with whom he’ll share scenes in season eight; and Liam Cunningham speaks about the upcoming end of production and how we’ll know he’s finished filming.

The Danish kongemorder recently attended Colombia’s first Comic Con, which took place in Bogotá this last weekend, and WRadio was there to ask him about Jaime’s evolution from the man who could defenestrate a child with a clever line to the man in the latest finale who decides to keep his oath, even if it means losing Cersei for good:

“I believe it’s all connected,” Nikolaj says. “Essentially, when he says ‘the things I do for love’—that’s also one of the reasons he leaves in the end. He tells Cersei, once he knows she’s pregnant: ‘Hey, if we don’t defeat the menace to the North, we’ll all die and there won’t be any future—for you, for the child, or for anyone else.’ So he’s still guided by that principle. And he’s a man of his word. He swore to ride North.”

“In my mind,” he continues, “the character’s development has turned more into what his father told him in the first season: ‘I want you to become the man you were meant to be’. I believe he’s getting to that point, he’s getting closer to being that person.”

Later in the interview, Coster-Waldau reveals, perhaps unknowingly, that in season eight he’ll have a new scene partner with whom his character has never interacted before:

“I’ve really loved working with Liam Cunningham, who plays Davos Seaworth. We’ve worked together and now we get along very well. Saying more would be a spoiler.”

Technically, Liam Cunningham and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau have shared a scene before: the Lannister-Stark-Targaryen summit at the Dragonpit in “The Dragon and the Wolf.” But they never truly interacted, while in the case of season eight Nikolaj makes it sound like he was a frequent scene partner to Cunningham, which would mean Jaime and Davos will share many scenes together. Both of them have been known to be paired up with a number of characters for comedic effect, so seeing them together will be curious.

Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth in "The Dragon and the Wolf"
Liam Cunningham as Davos Seaworth in “The Dragon and the Wolf”

While on the subject of a certain Irish actor, the Independent just interviewed Liam Cunningham at this year’s Taste Of Dublin, “Ireland’s Premier Food and Drink Festival”, which he never could attend before because of his conflicting shooting schedule. As he was there today, does that mean the Onion Knight is done shooting? Not quite:

“At this time, we’re very, very close to finishing the entire thing, but you’re not gonna see it until next year sometime, and I don’t even think they have a release date yet—they don’t have to.” But what about him? Does he have scenes yet to shoot? Apparently yes, and there’ll be a giveaway: “I’m very close to getting rid of the beard. Thank God!”

You read that right: if we spot a freshly shaven Cunningham, that means Davos is done with season eight—and Game of Thrones. I’m afraid it’s time for Hair Watch 2018, except this time with Liam Cunningham’s lush beard instead of Kit Harington’s luxurious locks!

59 Comments

  1. I can’t wait to see Davos and Jamie interact. So since Davos is also with Jon a lot does this mean Jamie will be in several scenes with Jon as well. Can’t wait hope it has at least a spring release date. In the mean time let the beard watch begin!!!

  2. I’m hoping for a surprise ending. No tropes!! I AM A NEVER TROPER!!!
    DANY MUST DIE!!!! Jon lives, but in sorrow. Only lives for duty, and for
    his son with dany.

  3. MiaMoon: I can’t wait to see Davos and Jamie interact.

    It’s going to be great, isn’t it? I’m looking forward to it.

    Quenton Gilliam,

    So edgy.

    Tropes exist for a reason. They have been used in stories since time immemorial because they work and are narratively satisfying. Martin and D&D use them often, too. They will use tropes for this story’s conclusion as well. That doesn’t mean it will be a Disney ending… but that’s not what “tropes” are.

  4. I see Jaime losing his life in the battle for Winterfell saving Bran’s life and giving him and Sansa/Arya/Sandor a safe getaway.

    For what else his remaining arc should be good for? He can’t fight, no one will thrust the kingslayer/branpusher. A heroic death for a greater good is the best he could achieve.

  5. Quenton Gilliam:
    I’m hoping for a surprise ending. No tropes!! I AM A NEVER TROPER!!!
    DANY MUST DIE!!!! Jon lives, but in sorrow. Only lives for duty, and forhis son with dany.

    😀 #ANeverTroper Gotta say the Dany must die is hilarious. The trope of a savior sacrificing their life for the good of humankind dates more or less since Jesus died on the cross story.

    Here, knock your self out having a laugh with the “heroic sacrifice” trope:
    http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HeroicSacrifice

    It is impossible I think to avoid tropes. Happy ending trope, hero dying trope… Choose your poison though.

  6. Very excited to see Jaime and Davos interact, two men from incredibly different backgrounds who have spent so much of their lives serving kings, and the stories they could compare.

    Must say, though, when I saw the title of the article, the first thought that came into my head was Jaime interacts with new character – please, please, please let it be Sam!! That would be close on my list of favored potential meet ups to Tyrion and Sam.

  7. I love Liam with a beard, it suits him! Maybe ages him a bit, but meh.

    Oh that photo of Jaime. “I don’t believe you.” One of the best moments of the whole damn series.

    Davos: “Lost the ends of my fingers once…”
    Jaime: “You think THAT’S bad???”

  8. Pigeon:
    I love Liam with a beard, it suits him! Maybe ages him a bit, but meh.

    Oh that photo of Jaime. “I don’t believe you.” One of the best moments of the whole damn series.

    Davos: “Lost the ends of my fingers once…”
    Jaime: “You think THAT’S bad???”

    “Hey you over there! Can you lend me a hand?”

  9. Pigeon:
    I love Liam with a beard, it suits him! Maybe ages him a bit, but meh.

    Oh that photo of Jaime. “I don’t believe you.” One of the best moments of the whole damn series.

    Davos: “Lost the ends of my fingers once…”
    Jaime: “You think THAT’S bad???”

    Varys: “Bitches, please. Be thankful for what you still got!”

  10. Mr Derp: Varys: “Bitches, please.Be thankful for what you still got!”

    *Theon and Greyworm nodding in the background*

    Ned: “Ha!”

  11. Too bad no one asked him to clarify, the radio station’s quote that Sansa isn’t to be trusted statement.

  12. MiaMoon,

    True, but between daenerys, arya and sam (jon’s favorite people in the world) all in winterfell next season, i’m afraid davos will really need to find another character to hang out with lol.

  13. I think with jon reuniting with sam and arya next season (plus his romance with dany), he probably won’t have a lot of time to hang out with davos anyways. I like how these amazing duos are always changing every 2, 3 seasons and making room for new amazing duos (tyrion/bronn, bronn/jaime, tyrion/pod, pod/brienne).

  14. He tells Cersei, once he knows she’s pregnant: ‘Hey, if we don’t defeat the menace to the North, we’ll all day and there
    Maybe missing a word there “we’ll” ???

  15. I for one will be very sad to see Liam lose the beard. I think it’s quite a handsome look for him.

  16. I hope that Jaime’s character gets well written monologues and dialogues in season 8. Coster-Waldau’s acting is amazing every time he gets challenging material.

    Liam Cunningham is awesome actor as well. Davos is great! A shared scene sounds good.

  17. I never thought about Davos and Jaime in a scene together, but now I can’t wait for it. LOL

    I think both of them work really well, when combined with other characters.

  18. TormundsWoman: The trope of a savior sacrificing their life for the good of humankind dates more or less since Jesus died on the cross story.

    You’re being too kind in your correction, to be honest. It dates from much, MUCH further back. Jesus is just the latest rehash of the same old story.

    The edgdlords who mistakenly believe GOT is a grimdark story will be as disappointed with the ending as anyone who believes it’s a Disney tale.

  19. Luka Nieto,

    No doubt you are correct but that was a figure of speech & the first famous and old one that came to mind without thinking.

    I did read lately on this site multiple comments about GoT becoming a “Disney story” and I’m always surprised to be honest and at a loss why anyone would actually think that.

    Just a recap of it which most probably know: a “Disney story” dates back to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and what it means in the industry is that the death of hero averted, there’s complete victory over villains, everyone good lives happily ever after.

    I’m not sure how that can apply to GoT. Some of the “good” characters will most likely die, there is no real “innocent good” characters such as the Dinsey world has anyway. They all have some kind of blood on their hands or actions they are not proud of and would prefer to be forgiven and forgotten.

    And finally I have a huge doubt that should any of the “good” characters live they would live happily ever after. The amount of trauma and tragedy is hard to skim over. Some may truly never recover. Book wise we have Martin on record praising the Burning of the Shire, AFTER the war was won. He’s a huge lover of showing how “happily ever after” doesn’t really exist according to that. That’s the main reason we have the “bittersweet” ending promise!

    I’m not sure how so many talk of Disney story ending or how to “avert” it unless you’re talking full anihilation of the human race by the White Walkers and not even Martin is that cruel… hopefully.

  20. I am so glad to see Nik enthusiastic about the ending. Last season he didn’t hold back on expressing doubts about how Jaime was written. If he says he thinks the ending is perfect I think he can be trsuted. As a Brienne/Jaime shipper, and with Nik being the biggest supporter of the ship, that makes me very happy.
    I wonder how much Nik’s feelings on the ending is motivated by Jaime’s arc and the overall story. Nik loves Jaime so he wouldn’t be pleased if Jaime doesn’t get a decent arc. But he feels this way about the series as a whole, I wonder what this means for Dany who he vehemently dislikes.

  21. I can see the things coming. Now that Jaime has managed to escape from the influence of Cersei maybe he will give Jon a warning about his relationship with Dany because we know it’s not fifty-fifty in their relationship and it can become toxic quickly. I hope not but we know Dany is sometimes indisputable. She has a own interests and has a bigger force of character than him. We ‘ll see if he’ll be able to disagree with Dany’s decisions.

  22. The Book Thief,

    Totally agree. NCW is right up there with Peter and Lena as far as acting chops go, and he knocks it out of the park when given good material.

  23. Can’t wait to see how Dany will react to the arrival of Jaime in the North. He attempted to kill her during the war. Good thing Drogon was there.

  24. Enharmony1625,

    When Jaime said to Bronn in the beginning of S6E4: “I save my confessions for the High Septon”, I was like: “Yes! Jaime Lannister-monologue is coming!” Because I think that High Sparrow-subplot in S5 might have included some foreshadowing material, although the subplot itself wasn’t very good in my humble opininon.

    And I agree, Peter Dinklade and Lena Headey are great in acting!

  25. Enharmony1625:
    The Book Thief,

    Totally agree. NCW is right up there with Peter and Lena as far as acting chops go, and he knocks it out of the park when given good material.

    Just so the thread doesn’t get too long without ASNAWP, I gotta say Maisie has been damn good too. 🙂 I still occasionally pull up on YouTube at work her scenes with Tywin, Beric/Thorus, and Sandor. So young but stood right in there with them.

  26. The Book Thief:
    Enharmony1625,

    When Jaime said to Bronn in the beginning of S6E4: “I save my confessions for the High Septon”, I was like: “Yes! Jaime Lannister-monologue is coming!” Because I think that High Sparrow-subplot in S5 might have included some foreshadowing material, although the subplot itself wasn’t very good in my humble opininon.

    And I agree, Peter Dinklade and Lena Headey are great in acting!

    Sorry, I meant High Sparrow-subplot in S5-S6. I forgot that subplot lasted two seasons. 🙂

  27. The Book Thief: Sorry, I meant High Sparrow-subplot in S5-S6. I forgot that subplot lasted two seasons. 🙂

    Ugh. I think seeing him burst into green ooze was the only reason I was glad Cersei blew up it up. Well, that and it was a frickin’ sweet scene. 😛

  28. Clob: Just so the thread doesn’t get too long without ASNAWP, I gotta say Maisie has been damn good too. I still occasionally pull up on YouTube scenes at work of her scenes with Tywin, Beric/Thorus, and Sandor.So young but stood right in there with them.

    Yes, Maisie Williams is amazing! Arya is one of my favourites, especially in S1-S4. (Book-Arya’s time in Bravoos is more interesting than show-Arya’s.) Although I have to say that “Arya and the Needle”-scene in S5 was perfect!

  29. I find this pairing fascinating. Two terrific actors and I can’t wait to see it!

    But just thinking about this in terms of season 8 plot. What does Davos do well (other than ‘advise’)? He was a smuggler. Where has he smuggled things frequently? Kings Landing. I know it would be a re-tread of smuggling Tyrion into KL last season but what if he’s bringing Jaime to do a certain… task? That would definitely have given the actors some screen time together.

  30. Clob,

    Absolutely! Maisie is a tremendously good actress. Not only can she hold her own against experienced actors like Charles Dance, she has an incredible range. She is equally adept at tenderness, longing, fear, badassery, intimidation, feistiness, humour.. and the list goes on.

    The Book Thief: Although I have to say that “Arya and the Needle”-scene in S5 was perfect!

    Beautiful scene! I loved her scenes with Lady Crane as well in S6.

  31. Too early for episode title guesses? I remember last year we were trying to avoid them as much as possible due to the leaks, but we don’t seem to have that problem this year, at least, not yet.

    I think many of us think that 2 of the 6 episode titles could reasonably be:

    “A Song of Ice and Fire”
    “A Dream of Spring”

    They also tend to have two House Sigils combined for episode titles, but not sure if we’ll get that anymore.

    “The Lion and the Dragon”?

    Any other suggestions?

    “The Long Night”?
    “Winterfell”?
    “Lightbringer”?
    “The Night is Dark and Full of Terrors”?
    “A Lannister Always Pays His Debts”?

    A number of House mottos have made it too, but not all.

    “Family, Duty, Honor”?
    “Hear Me Roar”? Sounds too corny

  32. Am I the only person who found the High Sparrow an interesting and well-acted character?

    I know this is blasphemy, but I’ll take the High Sparrow sparring with Olenna and Jaime or arresting Cersei over Sandor grunting obscenities any day. Rory McCann is great, but The Hound gets old after a while.

  33. Mr Derp:I think many of us think that 2 of the 6 episode titles could reasonably be:

    “A Song of Ice and Fire”
    “A Dream of Spring”

    Those two would be my best guesses for episodes five and six, respectively.

  34. Patches,

    It’s all good. Different strokes for different folks. Besides, it’s nice to get different perspectives. Not everyone has to like the same exact characters and prefer the same types of scenes.

    I had a certain appreciation for the High Sparrow, at least as far as the acting skill was concerned, but his speeches and diatribes were the type that I typically find too long-winded and I just tune it out after a while. Especially after it became obvious that the High Sparrow was just as corrupt as everyone else. He just had a different hustle to make it less obvious.

    I did enjoy his verbal sparring scene with Olenna though. One of the few times that Olenna met her match.

  35. Mr Derp:
    I think many of us think that 2 of the 6 episode titles could reasonably be:

    “A Song of Ice and Fire”
    “A Dream of Spring”

    These two are definitely a strong possibility. I would love to see “A Time for Wolves” as an episode title next season, as it was the original title for the last book in the series.

    I like “Winterfell” and “The Lion and the Dragon” as possibilities as well. How about “The Wolf and the Kraken” for symbolizing Theon’s Stark/Greyjoy identities and his conflict with Euron?

    I think episode 1 should just be called “Reunions”. 🙂 Kidding of course, but it would be fitting.

    I’m sure I’ll think of more throughout the day..

  36. Patches,

    I think that Jonathan Pryce acted High Sparrow well. For me, there were two problems in this subplot:
    1.) The essence was too similar in many cases when High Sparrow appeared.
    2.) I never quite understood why High Sparrow did what he did. We got some background information in S6 when he talked with Margaery. Did he just want power?
    His scene with Olenna was good though.

  37. Luka Nieto: The edgdlords who mistakenly believe GOT is a grimdark story will be as disappointed with the ending as anyone who believes it’s a Disney tale.

    Wholeheartedly agree! Well said.

  38. Everyone is experimenting with magic and no one really knows what they’re doing or the consequences. The children making a sacrifice of the NK is eerily similar to Dany killing Mirri to hatch dragons (which was a fluke) which is also similar to Mel sacrificing Shireen and not knowing what the hell she’s doing either. Now with this pattern I’m not sure if they stumble on the solution to their White Walker problem by accident, or the “solution” might make things worse…either way I dont think the hero-sacrificing -themselves-and-then-the-world-is-saved is GRRM’s style.

    If the dragons have to die, I think the practice of Targ-Targ incest also has to end because it appears linked to blood (their own) and fire magic from ancient Valyria. Its not just about “madness,” its also about a potential Targaryen down the line using incest+fire magic+PURE BLOOD to create another potential Doom and the world ending in Fire. For both political and magical reasons, I dont think the author approves of keeping the bloodline “pure” because the WW are also doing the same by producing through inbred wildlings.

    I also think if dragons have to die, Dany will not kill them and will fight others who try to do so. The show has been dropping hints that mothers get pissed off and fight back when angry!

    Not sure if this is grimdark or Disney. Probably more of the former but, I think the ending will be darker for some characters than others.

  39. Mr Derp,

    Hahahahaha!
    Patches,

    m I the only person who found the High Sparrow an interesting and well-acted character?

    Oh my goodness no! We all knew when Jonathan Pryce was cast, that the role was going to be amazing. Not sure I’d say his banter with Oleanna was better than others (so many great actors in the show its really hard to say who is better, and besides depends on the writing) but while I was glad to see Sparrow go, I was sorry to see the last of Pryce on the show

  40. Oh wow so they are still filming – I thought it was all done although it sounds like we are probably only days away now.

  41. Patches:
    Am I the only person who found the High Sparrow an interesting and well-acted character?

    I know this is blasphemy, but I’ll take the High Sparrow sparring with Olenna and Jaime or arresting Cersei over Sandor grunting obscenities any day.Rory McCann is great, but The Hound gets old after a while.

    You are correct. It is blasphemy.
    I’d rather watch Sandor throw rocks at zombies for a hour and calling them dumb c*nts, than listen to High Sparrow bloviate for one minute about “the gods.”

    Incinerating High Sparrow: Priceless. That f*cker was the worse kind of villain: a boring one.

  42. Clob: Just so the thread doesn’t get too long without ASNAWP, I gotta say Maisie has been damn good too. 🙂I still occasionally pull up on YouTube at work her scenes with Tywin, Beric/Thorus, and Sandor.So young but stood right in there with them.

    One of my favorites, early S2:

    Gendry: “You know, you shouldn’t insult people that are bigger than you.”

    Arya: “Then I wouldn’t get to insult anyone.”

    Perfect timing, perfect line delivery, perfect inflection. Cracks me up every time.

    #ASNAWP

  43. The Book Thief:

    1.) The essence was too similar in many cases when High Sparrow appeared.

    By design. Religious fanatics are tediously monotonous.

    2.) I never quite understood why High Sparrow did what he did. We got some background information in S6 when he talked with Margaery. Did he just want power?

    He was another character like Tommen, which is why they got along so well. Neither could deal with the dark, brutal, and highly-inequitable world of Westeros. Although his talents had earned him great wealth, that wealth brought him no peace. His actions in the story are all about tearing down the powerful humans on Westeros so the Seven can establish a better world. But there is no evidence the Seven actually exist, so his actions were ultimately pointless. He could ultimately have done real good by using his talent for cobbling to raise apprentices from Fleabottom, and hosting charity dinners for highborns like Margaery to patronize. (I loved the reveal that the Sparrows go without shoes because their leader abandoned cobbling!)

    His scene with Olenna was good though.

    Oh god, Diana Rigg and Jonathan Pryce trading sarcastic barbs! (But only for one scene! Less is more!) His taunting of her for her ownership of the grain she had neither sewn nor reaped was amazing. His subsequent threat of revolt from below was very chilling indeed — and echoed what Oleanna herself had said to Tyrion, about how the highborns have to put on expensive entertainments for the masses, lest the masses entertain themselves by killing highborns.

    The High Sparrow’s arc is another contribution to one of the main themes of the story. Feudalism on Westeros is dying, as the feudal lords prove unequal to the challenges of governance. (Ned’s robotic execution of Will, instead of taking the deserter straight to Maester Luwin for a chat about White Walkers, means the entire story started with a huge act of failed governance by a feudal lord.) The end result of this feudal collapse has Cercei betraying all of humanity (!) by refusing to make common cause with the Northerners and their foreign allies.

    I don’t believe the story ends with a House of Commons ruling Westeros, but I can see the story ending with the surviving leaders calling a Great Council to decide what to do next.

  44. Patches,

    I thought the High Sparrow subplot was really interesting too. The Sparrow interpretation of religion was too rigid and placed too much emphasis on policing sexual mores, but they seemed to play closer attention to helping the common people. The acting and dialogue in the High Sparrow scenes were high points of the show to me.

  45. Mr Derp:
    The Stannis Baratheon spellchecker app must not be working proper…uh, properly 😉

    I like that Arya’s figures of speech and classic lines have crept into our lexicon. I can’t help but use them all the time.

    Gifs of her insults are especially handy when responding to text messages. (Like when I had to leave someone’s office in a hurry without cleaning up the mess I’d made in his conference room, I apologized with Arya’s 7×1 image & line: “When people ask you what happened here, tell them the North remembers. Tell them, winter came for House Frey.”)

  46. Tensor the Mage, Who Could Watch An Entire Episode of the High Sparrow,

    I have this feeling that High Sparrow had some hidden motives and he wasn’t actually interested in building a world a better place. However, because his (hypotetical) true motives remained hidden till S6E10, I think you might be right.

    The power of the Seven is still indeed a mystery. Personally I think that all religions in Westeros represent same phenomenon, but in a different way. (Maybe the Seven are the final Great Council? Who knows 🙂 )

  47. Pigeon,

    Hahahahahahahahahhahaha
    Very Very Good 😉

    Davos: “I once served a king who wanted to burn a few people”
    Jaime: “You think THAT’S bad”

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